India has gifted the world a huge number of talented cricket players over the years, including many players still on the field today. Despite not competing in a single Test match until 1932, India has produced some of the world’s most respected and awe-inspiring cricket players over the course of the past century and today the nation is known for its world-renowned cricket talent. Let’s take a look at six of the greatest Indian cricketers ever to grace the pitch.
1. Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar is a relatively contemporary player, having played Test cricket for 24 years from 1989 to 2013, scoring 15,837 runs in that time and a batting average of 53.86. He was a fantastic batsman, known for his successful hits against pace and spin bowls and perfecting the straight drive; in fact, superstar Australian cricketer Shane Warne once said that Tendulkar was the most difficult batsman to dismiss.
2. Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag is a cricketer who played 103 Test matches from 2001 to 2013. He’s known as a strong and destructive opener and an incredibly powerful batsman; prolific and talented bowlers have often feared bowling for Sehwag. He scored 8,503 runs over the course of his career and hit a batting average of 49.43. At his peak, Sehwag scored a number of triple-figure counts, including 309 at Multan against Pakistan, winning the match for India.
3. Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar is often touted to be the greatest opening batsman of all time. He played test cricket from 1971 to 1987, and in that time scored 10,122 runs and boasted a batting average of 51.12. He was the first Indian player to score 10,000 Test runs and set more records during a single era than any other player in International cricket except Don Bradman. As a player, he was considered an impenetrable defender.
4. Vijay Hazare
Vijay Hazare’s career spanned just seven years from 1946 to 1953, but in that short time, he scored 2,192 runs and made a batting average of 47.65. He was one of the first India cricket players to enjoy truly international fame and success and today he’s considered to be one of the most resilient right-handed batsmen India has ever seen.
5. Rahul Dravid
Playing from 1996 to 2012, Rahul Dravid made his name not just as a fantastic cricketer but also as a great sportsman and personality. He was known for his mental resilience and physical stamina, often spending hours at the crease. He scored a total of 13,265 runs over the course of his Test career – the second most of any Indian player ever, second only to Sachin Tendulkar – and held a batting average of 52.63.
6. Kapil Dev
Kapil Dev was an all-rounder of international esteem, claiming 434 Test wickets and scoring 5248 runs during his career. He’s known as one of the fastest bowlers of all time, with a bowling average of 29.64 and a reputation for his ability to send the ball all directions in the air. While he captained the team, India won the World Cup for the first time ever by defeating the West Indies in 1983.